MZ Sitewide

MZS Excavations / Stratigraphy

JPD

Giorgio Buccellati, Federico Buccellati – June 2013

JP Strata and Phase Chart

JPD Sequence

fAB+

Vx05 1820; Vx07 1034

Wx11 gB

Horizon

Phase

Description

Key

Stratum

General Description

Description for J1

J1 features and ^'s

Description for J2

J2 features and ^'s

J7 features and ^'s [Same desc. as J2]

Description for J3

J3 Features

Description for J5

J5 features and ^'s

Description for J6

J6 features and ^'s

between-season accumulation

Soil deposit

f308, f302

J3f247

soil deposit

f201

Scattered intrusions

sod layer, topsoil

Topsoil

f370

J3f1

topsoil

buildup under topsoil

J3f2

modern burials

Short-term stays

J3f136

Modern hearths and burials

Abandonment

limited and unorganized occupation no structures

Scattered occupation

f217, f218, f373, f376

tannurs

Unorganized occupations

J3f116, a7

Natural Accumulations containing scattered stones and temporary, working floors

J5f9, a1

8m (mid Assyrian)

the temple mound complex continues to be covered with wind-blown soil. Several minor elements are linked to the Middle Assyrian period based ceramics analysis

Structures found on top of the ancient tell surfaces

f374?, f375?, f372?, f371?

stones

In unit J5, a Middle Assyrian influence was noted in the top levels of natural accumulations atop the staircase and two stone walls linked by a threshold.

J5f12, f13

accumulations under structures

accs below stones

buildup after Mittani abandonment

J3f167, f168

7v (Late Mittani)

Breakdown of the tradition: the westward-oriented temple mound complex begins to seriously deteriorate and be covered, despite minor efforts to reconstruct it

120

Natural accumulations visible, collapse of structures

ED III wall no longer visible, thick natural flat accumulations above the old plaza

Glacis and memory stones covered

J3f241

collapse stones

f212

122

Revetment wall in process of being covered by accumulations

Edge of terrace marked by stones?

Accumulations against revetment wall, memory stones

J3f123, f148, f152, a16, f253, f30, f257, f43, f261

In s122 the staircase, revetment wall, and associated structures in process of being covered.

J5f94

accumulations

128

Last use of area as temple complex

Western half of second apron

J3f10, f532

In s128 the rebuilt temple complex was still in use as evidenced by floors, and minor remodeling takes place.

J5f192

7s (Late Mittani)

130

Use of structures, beginning of buildup

Buildup on glacis surface

J3f42, f33

Use of new structures with buildup in plaza

J5f45, f63

7m (Middle Mittani)

The entire temple mound complex is reoriented from a focus on entering from the east to a focus on entering from the west

144

Remodeling of west entrance

Phase 14 a marks a period of remodeling of the west entrance, probably due to continued buildup of accumulations to the west of the staircase. There may also have been damage to the staircase and associated structures which needed to be repaired. Also by that time the revetment wall was almost covered so a line of memory stones was added atop it.

J5f37, f46, f192, f126, f102

146

Use of W staircase

use areas after brickfall

Phase 14 b marks the period of time during which the new structure was used for access to the temple. Gradually over time, accumulations built up in the open area west of the staircase and rose to the level of the top of the bottom step.

J5f135, f128

148-160 KEY

148

The Great Western Shift: Construction of West Staircase

Upper part of accumulations against ED III revetment wall, wall still visible

use areas after brickfall

J2f145, f141, f125?

Phase 14d marks a major period of building on the western side of the temple mound. Where once there was an arc of low stones bordered by an escarpment, now was built an extension of the revetment wall, a monumental staircase, and other major stone structures.

J5f21, f14, a10, f3

7j (Middle Mittani)

de-emphasis of Eastern portion of JP and blocking of staircase

158

second moment of brickfall in front of staircase

second brickfall moment

gB: put Apron2 in s630

159

short lived use period

use period between brickfall with pits and curtain walls

160

Brickfall in front of Staircase

great eastern brickfall

f340, f342, f356, f338, f345, f341, f144

Ash and great eastern brickfall, collapse of wall north of f218

f55, f90, f212

Why do J5 and J2 share this stratum?

161

heavy erosion

Eastern Erosion

f334?, f288?, f346?, f150??

continued erosion of surfaces

J5f218, f222, f234, f202, f206

fire

^ash1

7f (Early Mittani)

Development of northwestern terrace: the northwestern terrace is constructed and attempts were made to protect it from damage by flowing water

174

bin construction and use

176

Continued use of northwestern terrace

Lower accumulations to the base of ED III revetment wall

f330, f326, f323, f322, f319, f316, f315, f314, f313, f312, f311, f310

Buildup of level floors against f41 wall

J5f230, f238

memory' row of stones above revetment wall (f227)

f201

moved J1 features here, since they are tied to continued use, synchronicity unclear

178

First use of northwestern terrace

Lateral staircase, sloping floor to west of f41 near location of f21 staircase

J5f246, f205

Mittani glacis

f206, f204, ^glacis1

180

Rebuilding of northwestern terrace

Construction of water "barrier"?

f328

Building of dam and other water control measures to control water flow from N to S along f41.

J5f257, f266, f254, f259, ^wcs2

pits

f142, f200(k104), f192

182

184

7c (Early Mittani)

Protection of northwestern terrace

188

post-construction accs

accumulations and floors

f151, f140

190 KEY

190

Northern escarpment remodeling

First Mittani use of ED III pavement/escarpment and first curtain wall

f337?, f325, f324, f238, f240, ^curt1, f333, f334, f331

Construction of curtain wall

J2f288

First Mittani deposit

fJ5f259

first construction of Mittani

^glacis2

192

pre-construction layers

first accumulations

f151

6 (Khabur/MB/OJ2)

299-201

5h (Isin Larsa)

Outdoor use areas in the East

pit

^pit3

5 (UrIII/Isin-Larsa)

4r (Late Akkadian)

Glacis adjacent to wall f129

Red ^glacis3

floors against obelisks

f266

4p (Akkadian)

Last accumulations against S face of f227

f232 f235

First accumulations against S face of f227

f237 f297

4m (Akkadian)

4c (EDIII/Proto-imperial)

3u (late EDIII)

Accumulations on northwestern terrace and buildup at base of revetment wall

610

Accumulations against terrace

Erosion surface of second escarpment

J1f379

Sloping accumulations against revetment wall

J2f306, f303, f307, f295?

Accumulations atop glacis

J3f121?

dump

f200?

3s(late EDIII)

Use of BA Temple

620

Use floors tied to second escarpment

use floors coming against the staircase and first apron (after construction of J2f127)

f357, f355, f353, f350, f347, f344, f360, f361, f362, f363, f364, f365, f371, f339, f370, f375, f367, f319?

Accumulations atop glacis

J3f121?

Use of second escarpment

J5f226, f236, f259, f282, 264, 285, 289, f256, f271, f258

dump

f200?

3p(late EDIII)

strengthening the revetment wall

630 KEY

630

Major modifications (2nd escarpment)

cut out of erosion, Construction of second escarpment

J1^esc2, f321, f306, f305, f304, f303, f300, f299, f297, 296, 295, 294

building of western flank wall (J2f127) (salmon floor J2359?)

f127?, f359?, f379?, f377?, f359?

Eastern half of second apron

J3f556

Building of escarpment 2

J5f263, f268, f280, ^esc2

rapid rise to the east

f232, f297

3n(mid EDIII)

Moments of use between s650 and s630 (synchronicity across units unclear)

640

Moments of use between s650 and s630, synchronicity unclear

640a

Accumulations above erosion first escarpment

J1f278, f317, f327, f332, f335, f348, f320

640b

Erosion first escarpment

J1f278, f317, f327, f332, f335, f348, f320

640c

Accumulations covering stone escarpment ^esc1

J5f278, f268, f263

640d

First uses of Temple Terrace

J2f245, f240, f248

salmon floor?

f312?

3m (early EDIII)

Building the Temple Terrace

650 KEY

650

Major construction and remodeling of the temple mound complex during the Early Dynastic Period. It is during this time that the revetment wall, east stonework(first apron, staircase), and plaza were constructed.

construction of first escarpment and revetment wall

J1^esc1, ^wall1, f196, f340, f341, f339, f338?, f307?, f298

First Floor (salmon floor J2359? or gray J2f392?)

J2f378?, f369?, f374?, f128, f129, f130, f131, f359?, f392?

construction of revetment wall

J3f11, f50, f109, f94

First floor against stone escarpment, succession of later floors, construction of revetment wall

J5f393, z2?, f41, f295, ^esc1?, f189

f218, f129, f100, f177, f312?

651

First cut, accumulations, stone collapse

J1^cut3, f309, f318, f336, f329, f345, f347, f349, f354, f358, f359, f362, f369, f363, f360, f361, f279?

Hypothetical wall (removed at a later point) against which ^esc1 comes

J5z1, z2?, ^esc1?

3l (early EDIII)

Pre- EDIII Temple Terrace

660

Accumulations and cuts from EDIII period against structure (J2f380) from before EDIII Temple Terrace

Pit cutting lower floors (primarily J2f382) and associated fill

J2f382, f268, f304, f383, f384

f227, f300?

665

Post-NinV use of Terrace precursor (J2f380)

Pebble floors w/o NinV pottery

J2f209, f215, f205, f287, f292, f266

3j (EDII)

NinV – Undecorated shapes, template lines

670

NinV use of Terrace Precursor (J2f380)

Lowest pebble floor

J2f291, f294

3h (EDII)

NinV – incised & excised bold, Scarlet Ware, early Metallic Ware

685

Lowest floors in J2 with NinV sherds, running against J2f380

J2f386, f388, f389, f390, f391, f387

3f (EDI)

NinV – incised & excised fine; continued LC3? Terrace use

710

last use of LC3? terrace?

Erosion of N-S wall (f259), refilling and attempt to block erosion

f353, f344, f346, 343, 342

711

Use LC3 structure with accumulations (J1k126-only)

f268, 280, f283, f365, f366, f367

3d (EDI)

NinV - fine incised

720

Accumulations to the west of LC structure

f364, f352, f351, f368

3b (EDI)

NinV - painted

730

2m (LC3)

Earliest Walls

830

[Damage to the LC3 Walls]?

Damage to LC3 walls, repairs to the breach

850

Structures built during the Late Chalcolithic period

Construction of LC3 walls & first floors

J1f288, f259, f350, f355, ^str1

Construction of LC3 walls

Small 'sliver' wall possibly dating to LC3

J5f284

f324?

852

854

856

858

860

glacis?

J3f352, a22, f368

2i (LC3)

Before LC terrace?

864

LC under earliest glacis

Construction and use of LC building

J3f358, f357, f356, a20, f355, f348, f363

866

868

869

870

Structures before the construction of the LC walls

Structures (?) at the base-below LC walls

f356, f357